Happy Grandma March

All covered in white and red, we welcomed March in the warmth of our apartment in the center of Sofia.

Baba Marta (grandma March) comes around and is meant to symbolize the beginning of Spring and for thousands of years we have tied the twisted red and white threads on each other for good health and happiness. When I was little I used to spend the night before March 1 trying to fit as many martenictzi (red and white decorations) on my top for school the next day. And on my coat. And on my hands. And hat too.

My kids enjoyed making their own with grandma and were satisfied with a lot less decorations. Maybe there is evolution after all.

So after a bit of a search we have settled into an apartment. It is big, especially compared to what we have had in the last year. Two bedrooms, living room, lovely kitchen and a bath. Still, the part that pulled squeals out of each member of the family was the ability to unpack our bags. Ahhhhh. I love how little my pile of clothes looks in the huge wardrobe. True, I am no fashion icon, but it takes me 2.5 seconds to tidy up in there. Beat that.

I am still catching up with people – my all time favorite activity. Not just any people, but people I actually enjoy spending my time with, plus there is nothing wrong with some gossip, drama and excitement in one’s life.

The plan? Meet as many of the people as I can. Try to fix my tooth. Buy a car. Get the kids passports. Get slim and delightful. Learn Spanish. Teach Bulgarian to the rest of the family. Catch up on blog posts. Write an e-book. Change the reality for birthing women in the country. Maybe I lost the plot at some point in writing the list, but I have dreamed of doing all those things before stepping foot here.

Thank you for your patience (I love how presumptive this phrase is, what if you were not?) since we arrived here. My mind is not on writing and I am sure you are not interested in blabs to just fill in the blanks.

I do miss you.

Happy Baba Marta and lots of health and happiness for each one of you.

10 Comments

What a nice tradition, I have never heard of it. Spring has come to Germany today; the parks are full of tiny little colour spots…
Have fun settling in – but not too much, please ;-) I cannot wait to see and read you travelling to new destinations. But, alas, I contend myself to read about the tooth fairy and Bulgarian language lessons for the next weeks ;-) (By the way: Who do you want to teach? Your children surely speak Bulgarian as a second mother tongue?)

Just emerging from Myanmar so have been away from internet for almost a month -seems like a lot of people are in Bulgaria now! Still enjoying 80 degree weather too much to imagine going back to that cold though!

5 March, 2012

Rozichka

It’s really refreshing meeting you. Oh, and I can also help you with Spanish ;)

5 March, 2012

Snapping Blabber

Jenny, unfortunately it is my kids I am talking about. I promise to leave the Tooth Fairy out of this blog…for now.

Ainlay, it is so good to hear from you. I missed the other families by a few days, but if you guys are heading this way, I will wait for you ;)

Rozichka, I am enjoying meeting you a lot too, but if you teach me Spanish, I will love you to bits.

5 March, 2012

Rozichka

Well, the serious learning needs some time which we obviously don`t have but a few useful phrases won`t hurt. ;) Just say when and where.

5 March, 2012

Liz

Welcome back – you’ve been missed! But sounds like you are having a wonderful time. And making quite a to do list! You know I’m a fan of the “writing an e-book” entry. Perhaps being settled in a familiar space will give you the mindset needed to tackle such a project.

6 March, 2012

Marcos Troia

Hey, you! Sorry for my absence,being busy with Carnaval! ;) Travel plans are only for next year, unfortunately! But it´s great to know that you have all those plans (I can teach portuguese, which is much cooler than Spanish, btw)!=P Enjoy your family a lot and the snowww!You cannot imagine how lucky you are, since I´m melting on a 90 degrees weather!Cheers and don´t abandon us for the tooth fairy!=)

14 March, 2012

Snapping Blabber

Marcos, I am glad you came back. I was wondering how much fun you are having at the Carnаval. I will take your offer for Portuguese tutoring, k?

Liz, I am having a great time, other than the horrible painful throat that has visited me the last day. The e-book?…still nothing on that front unfortunately.

When I first saw the heading of this post I somehow imagined a March by all the Grandmas of Sofia, but now I get the idea. It is a sound tradition, something that should perhaps spread outside Bulgaria.

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Child of communism in a land where bananas were a luxury winter item, I ended up scarred for life and with authority issues. After living on three continents, having three children, right now I am in the thirdfourth fifth year of traveling around the World with my family. Join me.